Algeria’s plastics industry is the fastest growing on the African continent

AFRICA'S LARGEST IMPORTER OF

US$ 2.3 billion in 2018: Algeria is Africa’s largest importer of plastics in primary forms

Source: GTAI German Trade & Invest

As all plastic raw materials are imported (mainly from the Middle East, Asia and Europe) with the exception of 3%, the Algerian market has great potential for exporters.

Imports of plastic raw materials, for instance, grew by 13% annually between 2007 and 2015, from 304 kt to 817 kt, +169%!

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Imports of plastic raw materials from other countries have developed as follows:

Morocco: from 374 kt in 2007 to 421 kt in 2015, +12.5%

Tunisia: from 209 kt in 2007 to 286 kt in 2015, +36.8%

Nigeria: from 513 kt in 2007 to 754 kt in 2015, +47.0%

Algeria - Top 10 import markets for plastics and articles thereof in 2016

Source: UN Comtrade

Imports of plastics technology are increasing strongly: Algeria is the largest importer of plastics technology on the African continent since 2017

For many years, South Africa was the leading importer of plastics technology in Africa. But while South Africa's imports stagnated at 132 to 153 million euros over the last six years, Algerian imports rose by 140% over the same period, to 185 million euros in 2017 - see below.

As a result, Algeria is the largest importer of plastics technology on the African continent since 2017.

Algeria is the largest importer of plastics technology on the African continent

Source: VDMA / Graph: fairtrade 2018

Strong growth: Algeria is Africa's largest importer of packaging technology

Algeria is the largest importer of packaging technology on the African continent, followed by South Africa and Nigeria.

But while South Africa's imports have stagnated or even declined significantly in recent years (to 168 million euros in 2017), Algeria's imports grew by 55% between 2012 and 2017, from 149 to 232 million euros in 2017.

The Country Cluster of EUROMAP-European Plastics and Rubber Machinery confirms significant double-digit growth for the Maghreb countries Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia as well as West African countries such as Nigeria.

Algeria shows by far the highest growth rates:

Algeria’s per capita plastics consumption on the up

• The per capita consumption of plastics in Algeria has grown by about 9% annually over the past ten years, from 10.0 kg in 2007 to 23.1 kg in 2017 and is estimated to be 25.8 kg in 2020.

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Algeria’s plastics consumption – Strong and steady increase

• The country's plastics consumption has grown by 11% annually over the same period. It has almost tripled from 338 kt to 955 kt. An increase to 1,121 kt is expected by 2020.

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Algeria’s plastics consumption by application 2017E

• Approximately 59.1% of consumption is accounted for by packaging, 20% by the construction industry and the remainder by various industries.

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Algeria’s plastics consumption by processing method 2017E

• In plastics processing, extrusion is in the lead with 41.1%, followed by PET and injection molding with 20.7% and 19.0%.